288 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



Foster Mother to the long list before recorded. In the Museum of the 

 Yorkshire Philosophical Society there is the egg of a Cuckoo appended 

 to the skeleton of the bird from which it was extracted after death. 

 {See Reed Warbler.) 



So long ago as 1784 that accomplished Yorkshire ornith- 

 ologist, Marmaduke Tunstall of Wycliffe-on-Tees, writing 

 of this generally distributed and common summer visitant, 

 which shares with the Swallow the title of " harbinger of 

 spring," informed the naturalists of his day that its arrival 

 in the county may be expected about the second or third 

 week of April. True it is that earlier dates are recorded, 

 one of these being the 4th April 1904, when Mr. S. Elley, 

 who is perfectly familiar with the bird, saw one, within a 

 few 3^ards' distance, near Saltburn ; and on the same date 

 Mr. E. B. Emerson distinctly saw one on the road, while driving 

 between Swainby and Deighton ; the earliest arrival I have 

 had ocular proof of was on 8th April 1881, at Kirby-in- 

 Cleveland ; but, generally speaking, what was correct in 

 Tunstall's time is equally so at the present day ; the Yorkshire 

 saying goes " In April come he will," and though March 

 Cuckoos are reported from time to time, I am somewhat 

 sceptical as to their authenticity. 



As a common and generally distributed species, the Cuckoo 

 requires little notice ; it is found in all parts of the county 

 from the sea-coast up to the high reaches of the dales, where 

 it is met with at 1500 feet elevation. 



Yorkshiremen say in regard to its departure, " In August 

 go he must " ; this saying also holds good, for the majority 

 leave in that month ; a few remain until September, and late 

 lingerers even into October ; the latest date at Spurn is the 

 24th of the latter month, 1883, though a record is communi- 

 cated (m Htt.) by Mr. R. Butterfield, of an example being killed 

 on 5th November 1902, at Horton, near Bradford. 



The information collected by the British Association Migra- 

 tion Committee shews that, on the vernal and autumnal 

 passages, it is frequently recorded at the Light stations on 

 the coast, and is sometimes captured at the lanterns of our 

 sea beacons. I have, on more than one occasion in spring, 



